AMCU threatens to strike if agreement with Sibanye-Stillwater not reached
213 mineworkers were dismissed after they staged an underground sit-in at the mine's Kwezi shaft in Rustenburg last week.
A Sibanye-Stillwater sign at a mine. Picture: Christa Eybers/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) threatened strike action should they not reach an agreement with Sibanye-Stillwater.
This followed the dismissal of 213 workers at Sibanye-Stillwater operations in Rustenburg on Sunday.
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The workers were served with dismissal notices after they failed to resurface during an underground sit-in last week, despite calls by the mine's management and unions AMCU and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa said the union would hand over a letter of dispute on Monday.
"We will finish this matter quickly. We will send a letter declaring a dispute of mutual interest, emanating from wage agreements, because at this stage, we do not see eye to eye."
Mathunjwa said if talks fell flat, the union and its members would follow due process.
"We will get a strike, however, the right way for us to go forward with it is to strike by following the proper channels."
AMCU called on Sibanye-Stillwater workers affiliated with it to remain calm amid growing concerns that workers may face possible dismissals.
Addressing a crowd of over 1,500 workers on Sunday, Mathunjwa said the unions were working on resolving this impasse amicably.
"Let's not fight amongst ourselves. This thing is small. We will not go on strike for a long time, not even three or five months."